25/03/2026
The Western Trust today marked the relaunch of its ‘Best Start in Life’ Strategic Group at a dedicated conference held on 25 March 2026, bringing together partners from across health, social care, community, and voluntary sectors.
The event coincides with two significant developments across Northern Ireland: the refresh of the 2026 Infant Mental Health Framework and ongoing childcare reform under the ‘Together for Families’ model. Together, these initiatives signal a renewed commitment to improving outcomes for babies, young children, and their families.
The ‘Best Start in Life’ Strategic Group represents a collective effort to break down traditional silos and strengthen collaboration across services and communities. Its focus is on building more connected pathways of support—ensuring that every family, regardless of location or circumstance, can access help early, consistently, and without stigma.
As the group relaunches, there is a clear emphasis on aligning policy with practice. The updated Infant Mental Health Framework highlights the importance of nurturing relationships, secure attachment, and emotional wellbeing in the earliest years of life. It calls for a cultural shift in how services engage with babies and their caregivers—placing value on every interaction and recognising the lifelong impact of early experiences.
At the same time, childcare reform is creating practical opportunities to better support families—reducing pressures, improving access to services, and enabling parents to provide stable, nurturing environments for their children. The Together for Families approach reflects a move toward more integrated, family-centred systems, closely aligned with the vision of the Best Start in Life initiative.
Central to this work is a recognition of the importance of the first 1001 days—from conception to a child’s second birthday. This critical period of rapid brain development lays the foundations for lifelong physical and emotional health, with early relationships and attachment playing a key role.
Lisa Storey, Western Trust Child Development Interventions Coordinator and member of the ‘Best Start in Life’ Strategic Group, said:
“This conference is an important moment to bring partners together with a shared purpose. By strengthening our connections across services and communities, we can ensure families receive the right support at the right time. The early years are so important, and through collaboration we can make a real difference to outcomes for children and their parents.”
Kevin Duffy, Western Trust Assistant Director of Community and Public Health and Chair of the ‘Best Start in Life’ Strategic Group, added:
“The relaunch of the ‘Best Start in Life’ Strategic Group reflects our commitment to working differently—placing children and families at the centre of everything we do. By aligning key developments such as the Infant Mental Health Framework and childcare reform, we are creating a more joined-up, responsive system that supports families from the earliest stages of life.”
The Western Trust remains committed to working in partnership to give every child the best possible start in life—recognising that strong foundations in the early years lead to healthier, happier futures.